S-House Principal Gregory Runyon to retire

Chloe DirectorStaff WriterAfter 25 years working at Samo and 38 years working in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), S-House Principal Gregory Runyon will retire in Jan. 2011.Runyon started teaching biology and chemistry at Samo in 1985, and moved on to become the science department chairman in 1999. Runyon was then promoted to S-House Principal when Samo was divided into the House system.Although Principal Dr. Hugo Pedroza believes Runyon’s role at Samo has been essential to the management of the school, Runyon has an optimistic outlook about how Samo will survive without him.“No one person is going to make or break the school,” he said. “I think administrators are great, but the real work is done by the staff and teachers.”In order to help smooth the transition, Runyon will continue as part of the school’s support staff.“I’m working very closely with Dr. P on decision making.  So, it’s not as if I’m completely retiring,” he said.However, Runyon is looking forward to enjoying the free time he will gain.“I just need to start taking more time to be thoughtful about myself,” Runyon said. “I’ve had a rough year. I’ve lost three friends, and I just have to get my life in order.”When Runyon retires, Pedroza believes that his presence will be missed at Samo.“Greg Runyon is such a powerful force at the school,” Pedroza said. “He has the biggest heart of anyone I know.”cdirector@thesamohi.com